Planning Mechanical Behavior of A356 Alloy Wheels by Using Distinct Heat Treatments
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Experimental Procedure
2.1. Die Casting Sample Preparation
2.2. Heat Treatments
2.3. The Sample Characterization
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Quenching and Aging Effects on Mechanical Behavior
3.2. XRD and DSC Characterizations
3.3. Microstructural Array and Fractograph Characterizations
4. Conclusions
- When the A356 alloy samples are quenched at 30, 60, and 80 °C, decreasing trends in both UTS and YS results are observed. Analog tendencies are also obtained when aging treatments at 180, 200, and 220 °C are applied. It was found that the UTS results corresponding with the aging at 180 °C and quenching at 30 °C are similar (i.e., ~240 MPa). Analog YS results are also similar in these same treatment temperature ranges, i.e., ~190 MPa.
- When comparing the experimental correlations between UTS and YS with microhardness with those previously reported (e.g., Krishna et al. [43] and Cerri and Ghio [42]), a good exponential adjustment prescribes the experimental data. On the other hand, when linear equations proposed by Abdulwahab et al. [40] and Rometsch and Schaffer [39] are utilized, no good adjustments are obtained.
- It was found that the calculated microstrains, crystallite sizes, and dislocation densities from the Rietveld treatments corroborate our understanding of the distinctive mechanical behavior of the A356 alloy samples subjected to different aging and quenching treatments. We found that the dislocations are responsible for similar UTS and YS values when compared with those samples quenched at 30 °C and aged at 180 °C. It was also found that by using the Rietveld treatment, the dislocation densities are calculated and correlation with mechanical responses can be constituted.
- It is important to remember that industrial practices commonly use artificial aging after a quenching procedure. However, for automotive wheels, it is noted that a complementary powder coating wheel treatment is often applied. This can promote a certain curing of coating, which prevents corrosion damage and provides a shiny aesthetic aspect. Although certain industrial secrets are required, this abovementioned curing coating treatment takes up to 2 h at 160 and 180 °C to complete. In this particular context, it seems that it is thermodynamically sufficient for a “preaging” or “overaging” to be conducted. We found that a “quasi-overaging” of the wheels results in a deleterious effect on mechanical behavior. This is attributed to “overaging” when associated with T6. With this, operational practices can be planned in order to obtain the required mechanical properties, which is particularly useful for manufacturers of A356 alloy wheels.
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Alloying Elements | Si | Mg | Cu | Fe | Ti | Sr | Al |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Min. content (%wt.) | 6.5 | 0.2 | ---- | --- | 0.1 | 0.01 | Balance |
Max. content (%wt.) | 7.5 | 0.45 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.02 | Balance |
As-Cast | Quenched at 30 °C | Aging at 180 °C | |
---|---|---|---|
ρ (m−2 × 1015) | |||
(200) | 6.2 (±0.2) | 7.2 (±0.2) | 7.9 (±0.2) |
(111) | 7.9 (±0.2) | 8.9 (±0.2) | 9.4 (±0.2) |
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Tonetti, A.L.; Osório, W.R.; Bortolozo, A.D.; Padilha, G.S. Planning Mechanical Behavior of A356 Alloy Wheels by Using Distinct Heat Treatments. Metals 2024, 14, 461. https://doi.org/10.3390/met14040461
Tonetti AL, Osório WR, Bortolozo AD, Padilha GS. Planning Mechanical Behavior of A356 Alloy Wheels by Using Distinct Heat Treatments. Metals. 2024; 14(4):461. https://doi.org/10.3390/met14040461
Chicago/Turabian StyleTonetti, Adriano L., Wislei R. Osório, Ausdinir D. Bortolozo, and Giovana S. Padilha. 2024. "Planning Mechanical Behavior of A356 Alloy Wheels by Using Distinct Heat Treatments" Metals 14, no. 4: 461. https://doi.org/10.3390/met14040461